(Entered October 29, 1998)

The current edition of ICE Magazine (November 1998) features a 2,000-word cover story on the new John Lennon box set, including detailed information on each track, and which ones never appeared on the "Lost Lennon Tapes" radio series - as told to us by Steven K. Peeples, who researched, wrote and produced the first 128 hours of the LLT series.

You can get a free copy of this issue by e-mailing ICE at emailice@aol.com with your name and address. They'll send you the new issue within 24 hours along with a no-obligation, trial subscription. If you decide you don't want to subscribe, you can write "cancel" on the bill when it comes.

(Entered October 27, 1998)

(With thanks to Jen Donnelly - From FMQB, 10/23/98)

The radio magazine, FMQB's "Rock Report" column featured a short interview with George Martin by Ken Sharp in the October 23rd edition. Martin is currently promoting an album of Beatle covers by some unlikely people, such as Jim Carrey, who does a goofy version of "I Am the Walrus." George Martin: "The lyrics to 'I Am the Walrus' are pretty weird. I mean who the hell knows what they mean? 'Crab a locker fish wife'...what does that mean? But to John it was just word poetry. John's version wasn't a funny version, it was just John. And John wasn't trying to be humorous. It was just his interpretation of what he likes in his kooky way. But he loved making up words. I often think that Lennon got his inspiration from Bob Dylan and Bob Dylan got his inspiration a lot from Dylan Thomas, the Welsh poet. I think there's a bit of Lewis Carroll, 'Jabberwocky' style, making it pormento words, compressing two words into one. John's lyric writing is very interesting."

Yoko asked Martin to provide a new orchestral background to John's "Grow Old With Me" for the "John Lennon Anthology." According to ICE Magazine, Yoko asked Mr. Martin to fulfill John's original wish that the song have orchestration. Working at Abbey Road Studios, Martin and a team of engineers also upgraded the quality of John's vocal on the piece.

(Entered October 25, 1998)

We snatched this off a Beatle web site whose editor is also a member of the Ono-Net (Yoko listserv).

Yoko in Brazil: (10/23/98) A report from João Paulo Petersen of Rio de Janeiro (Double thanks!):

Yoko Ono arrived on Monday, October 19th 1998. It is the first time that Yoko has visited Latin America or Brazil. She arrived in Brasília, capital of Brazil, for four-day stay. Yoko was there to show her art collection "Unfinished Objects." The Yoko exhibition, "Wish Trees for Brazil," opened on Wednesday, October 21st at National Theater Claudio Santoro and Homeland Phanteon in Brasília. The exhibition will remain until there on November 29th. Later, the exhibit will proceed to Salvador City.

Before her arrival, Yoko informed reporters that she would not answer questions about John Lennon. But she agreed to grant a collective interview for the press "just to speak about art." The Brazilian press respected her wish. A journalist asked Yoko, "Why are the objects unfinished?" She said, "Because the other part is seen by the public's eyes."

On one of the walls of the exhibition, Yoko wrote in Portuguese: Este é o chão. Or translating to English: " This is the ground." The Wish Trees For Brazil is composed for eight installations and six groups of works. When she observed the futurist architecture the places and the monuments in the Brasília city, Yoko Ono also said that "the city seemed to be built for E.Ts."

In Brasília, Yoko will literally plant an art work entitled "Wish Trees Florest," named for 60 ipes trees and more mirrows of water. The Wish Trees Florest will stay at Sculptures Park in Brasília.

(Entered October 19, 1998)

Julian Lennon in Perth, Western Australia to promote his latest album has appeared as the main "international guest artist" on WA's Channel 7 annual Telethon. At the close of the 25 hour marathon show which raised $2.4M, After a live rendition of "Salt Water" an emotional Julian personally donated $100,000 to the charity.

(IK Thanks Stuart Fairbairn For Sending In This Info)

(We hope to have a report from another correspondent in Australia on Julian's tour there. We'll post it as soon as we get it)

(Entered October 14, 1998)

This just came in from Hollywood And Vine:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 13, 1998

"WONSAPONATIME," SINGLE DISC DIGEST CULLED FROM 4-CD BOX SET "THE JOHN LENNON ANTHOLOGY" BEING SIMULTANEOUSLY RELEASED ON NOVEMBER 3RD TO FEATURE 21 TRACKS

Selections To Cover All Phases of John Lennon's Solo Career and Life

"WONSAPONATIME," the single CD digest featuring a selection of tracks from the 4-CD box set "THE JOHN LENNON ANTHOLOGY," will feature 21 tracks, it was announced today. With selections taken from all the CDs in the box set : "Ascot"; "New York City"; "T he Lost Weekend" and "Dakota" ; it gives both a musical and personal overview of John Lennon, spanning the years 1969 through his last recordings in 1980. Capitol is releasing both the box set and the single disc compilation on November 3rd, 1998.

The full track listing is as follows: "I'm Losing You"--" Working Class Hero"--" God"--" How Do You Sleep?"-- " Imagine (Take 1)"--" Baby Please Don't Go"--" Oh My Love"--" God Save Oz"-- " I Found Out"--" Woman Is The Nigger Of The World (Live) "-- "A Kiss Is Just A Kiss (As Time Goes By)"-- " Be Bob A Lula Rip It Up/Ready Teddy"--" What You Got"--"-Nobody Loves You When You're Down And Out"--" I Don't Wanna Face It"-- " Real Love"--" Only You "--"Grow Old With Me"--" Seans In The Sky"--" Serve Yourself"

In commenting on selecting the material for "WONSAPONATIME," Yoko Ono said: "It was hard work making these choices. I wanted to give a fair representation of all the material on the box set, but it's nearly impossible to present an edited version of nearly 100 tracks, all of which are very special. I hope people will see this as a taste of the ANTHOLOGY. It's being released not only as something that John's fans can enjoy and celebrate, but hopefully as an introduction to his music and thoughts for a new generation of people as well."

(Entered October 9, 1998)

Yoko appeared at a special tree planting at Strawberry Fields in Central Park in New York City on John's birthday. A news clip of the event appeared on CNN. Yahoo UK reported that an English oak tree was planted, witnessed by a civic delegation from John's home city of Liverpool.

VH-1 "Foreplay" featured John Lennon videos and an interview with Yoko at 6:30 ET. Videos shown included "Nobody Told Me," a short bit of "Midsummer New York" from Mike Douglas Show videos, "Give Peace a Chance" and "Imagine."

(Entered October 8, 1998)

The cable entertainment channel, E! will premiere a two-hour John Lennon special this Sunday (October 11, 1998) at 8PM ET. The program centers around John's final hours and focuses on his murderer. Go to E!'s TV Highlights page for more information.

(Entered October 7, 1998)

It was reported by ABC Radio News today that the British magazine, "Time Out" has proclaimed David Bowie to be a bigger influence in music over the past 30 years than the Beatles, who came in second. The magazine conducted a survey of pop stars, musicians, critics and industry insiders. They ran Bowie as the most important act of the last three decades because of his versatility and willingness to change.

(Entered October 6, 1998)

In Honor of John Lennon's Birthday October 9th Capitol Records "Hollywood and Vine" Site to Preview Tracks From "The John Lennon Anthology" a Month Before Release

To celebrate John Lennon's birthday October 9th, and the upcoming release of THE JOHN LENNON ANTHOLOGY, a 4-CD box set of nearly 100 previously unreleased solo tracks and a companion single CD digest entitled "WONSAPONATIME" coming from Capitol Records on November 3rd, Capitol's acclaimed "Hollywood and Vine" site will unveil a new John Lennon section.

Not only will this feature a sample of Grammy-Award winning journalist Anthony DeCurtis' liner notes, the complete tracklisting, and exclusive art work from the package, it will also be previewing four tracks from this groundbreaking compilation, one ever y Friday, beginning that day. This is almost a full month in advance of this heavily anticipated release.

On October 9th, internet users will be able to hear Yoko Ono's audio introduction to the box set, and "I'm Losing You." This will be followed by"Oh My Love" on October 16th; "Watching The Wheels" on October 23rd, and "Sean In The Sky" on October 30th. Eac h piece will feature an enhanced presentation for the Microsoft Windows Media Player.

THE JOHN LENNON ANTHOLOGY offers a unique glimpse into the personal and creative life of one the most significant musical artists of our time. Spanning the years 1969 through 1980, its four CDs "Ascot," "New York City," "The Lost Weekend" and "Dakota" - r epresent the four phases of Lennon's solo career, from his initial post-Beatles days in London to his life in New York and Los Angeles.

This unique look at - and listen to - THE JOHN LENNON ANTHOLOGY is just one exciting feature of the Capitol Records website "Hollywood and Vine" at http://www.hollywoodandvine.com/

(Entered October 4, 1998)

How much would you pay for a poem that has only two words - one of which is repeated 104 times? Fans and collectors will have a chance to bid for a John Lennon poem featuring the infamous four-letter word, f--k typed 104 times around the single word "you." The auction in Wiltshire, England will be held on October 10. John sent his piece to poet Susan Baker in 1969 after she asked him to write her a poem.

UPDATE FROM YAHOO-UK:
The poem mentioned above was sold for £3,352 October 10 at auction. The extraordinary work was sent to a fan nearly 30 years ago. The script was signed and titled by Lennon and countersigned by his wife Yoko Ono in 1969.

(Entered September 22, 1998)

The Latest Press Release from Capitol Records:

NEW YORK--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Sept. 21, 1998--

4-CD Boxed Set To Be Released November 3, 1998

Capitol Records has announced the track listing for "The John Lennon Anthology," a 4-CD boxed set that will contain nearly 100 previously unreleased solo tracks by John Lennon, including live tracks, home recordings, studio outtakes and television appearances.

As previously noted, "The Anthology's" four discs are individually titled "Ascot"; "New York City"; "The Lost Weekend" and "Dakota." The music and corresponding artwork for each disc relate to the geographical location and time period relevant to the respective era of Lennon's solo career, spanning material from his first solo recordings in 1969 to his last recordings in 1980.

In discussing the selections chosen for "The Anthology," Yoko Ono commented, "John's catalog is very important. The tracks on this set aren't all alternate takes or demos for songs that he included on his albums, but most of them are. There are some real rarities, of course, but I didn't want to just titillate people's curiosity. After all, those are the songs that John wanted to put out - and that's something I gave a lot of weight to. I wanted to deepen people's understanding of those songs, because they're the ones John wanted you to know. I put a special emphasis on that. I hope that people see his train of thought - and how that train of thought influenced the world."

Yoko continued, "This is a celebration of John's music - and not just for the fans who knew his music in the old days. I'm hoping there will be some new people who will hear this set and discover John's music."

Track Listing for the 4-CD Boxed Set Disc 1 - "Ascot":

1. Working Class Hero 2. God 3. I Found Out 4. Hold On 5. Isolation 6. Love 7. Mother 8. Remember 9. Imagine 10. "Fortunately" 11. Baby Please Don't Go 12. Oh My Love 13. Jealous Guy 14. Maggie Mae 15. How Do You Sleep? 16. God Save Oz 17. Do The Oz 18. I Don't Want To Be A Soldier 19. Give Peace A Chance 20. Look At Me 21. Long Lost John

Disc 2 - "New York City":

1. New York City 2. Attica State (live) 3. Imagine (live) 4. Bring On the Lucie (Freda Peeple) 5. Woman Is The Nigger of The World 6. Geraldo Rivera - One to One Concert 7. Woman Is The Nigger of The World (live) 8. It's So Hard (live) 9. Come Together (live) 10. Happy Xmas 11. Luck of the Irish (live) 12. John Sinclair (live) 13. The David Frost Show 14. Mind Games (I Promise) 15. Mind Games (Make Love, Not War) 16. One Day At A Time 17. I Know 18. I'm The Greatest 19. Goodnight Vienna 20. Jerry Lewis Telethon 21. "A Kiss Is Just A Kiss" 22. Real Love 23. You Are Here

Disc 3 - "The Lost Weekend":

1. What You Got 2. Nobody Loves You When You're Down And Out 3. Whatever Gets You Thru the Night (home) 4. Whatever Gets You Thru the Night (studio) 5. Yesterday (parody) 6. Be Bop A Lula 7. Rip It Up/Ready Teddy 8. Scared 9. Steel And Glass 10. Surprise, Surprise (Sweet Bird of Paradox) 11. Bless You 12. Going Down On Love 13. Move Over Ms. L 14. Ain't She Sweet 15. Slippin' and Slidin' 16. Peggy Sue 17. Bring It On Home To Me/Send Me Some Lovin' 18. Phil and John 1 19. Phil and John 2 20. Phil and John 3 21. "When in Doubt, Fuck It" 22. Be My Baby 23. Stanger's Room 24. Old Dirt Road

Disc 4 - "Dakota": 1. I'm Losing You 2. Sean's "Little Help" 3. Serve Yourself 4. My Life 5. Nobody Told Me 6. Life Begins At 40 7. I Don't Wanna Face It 8. Woman 9. Dear Yoko 10. Watching the Wheels 11. I'm Stepping Out 12. Borrowed Time 13. The Rishi Kesh Song 14. Sean's "Loud" 15. Beautiful Boy 16. Mr. Hyde's Gone (Don't Be Afraid) 17. Only You 18. Grow Old With Me 19. Dear John Something More 20. The Greak Wok 21. Mucho Mungo 22. Satire 1 23. Satire 2 24. Satire 3 25. Sean's "In The Sky" 26. It's Real

In addition to "The John Lennon Anthology" 4-CD boxed set, Capitol Records will simultaneously release "Wonsaponatime," a single disc containing a selection of tracks from the boxed set, on November 3rd. Information on this compilation will be forthcoming.

(Entered September 1, 1998)

Billboard magazine reports that Capitol Records will release a four-CD boxed set, "The John Lennon Anthology," November 3. Sources tell Billboard Bulletin that the collection will contain 100 previously unreleased solo tracks by Lennon, including home recordings and studio outtakes.

Yoko Ono, is serving as executive producer, and son Sean Lennon also had creative input. The set will be packaged in a lift-top cube, similar to the one that housed Rykodisc's 1992 "Onobox" collection of Ono's solo work, and will include a 60-page booklet.

A Lennon-Ono spokesperson said that the producers of the set searched for the rarest of the rare recordings to include in the package.

See- http://www.billboard.com/daily/0901_01.html

See- Yahoo News

(Entered August 24, 1998)

(From Various News Sources): Lennon's sister reveals herself :
http://www.bigmouth.co.uk/news/news.html#lennon

Lennon 'Sister' Wants To Meet His Family
http://www.yahoo.co.uk/headlines/19980825/entertainment/904004375-0.html
The woman who claims to be John Lennon's long-lost half-sister said she was looking forward to meeting other members of the family.

I'm Lennon's Long-Lost Sister Claims Hospital Clerk
http://www.yahoo.co.uk/headlines/19980824/entertainment/903991929-7.html
A 53-year-old woman claims she is John Lennon's long-lost half-sister.

John Lennon's lost half-sister revealed -
http://www.yahoo.co.uk/headlines/19980824/news/903964560-0000017115.html
LONDON, Aug 24 (Reuters) - A British woman claimed in a British newspaper on Monday she was the long-lost half-sister of ex-Beatle John Lennon, but said she never met one of the world's most famous pop stars.

(Entered August 16,1998)

(From PEOPLE Online Daily):

MCCARTNEY ATTACKS PRINCE Former Beatle Paul McCartney has accused Queen Elizabeth's husband, Prince Philip, of hypocrisy for shooting pheasants and being president of the World Wide Fund for Nature. McCartney pledged that he would be as active as his late wife Linda in supporting animal activists and said that livestock farming is one of the biggest destroyers of the planet. "President of a wildlife organization shooting birds, that's hypocrisy, it's not even sport, " McCartney said in an interview published this week in the vegetarian newsletter VIVA.

(Entered August 16, 1998)

(From E! ONline) McCartney's Privacy Invaded, Commission Says... by Daniel Frankel

August 14, 1998, 2 p.m. PT

Almost a year after the death of Princess Diana--and all the vitriol aimed at paparazzi in between--a British press commission ruled Thursday that a celebrity magazine unfairly intruded on Paul McCartney and his family by publishing photos of the musician mourning the death of wife Linda in a Paris cathedral.

According to Associated Press, the Press Complaints Commission sided with the former Beatle and against Hello! magazine in a largely symbolic decision. The mag published the photos in late May, showing McCartney and his family inside Notre Dame cathedral. One caption describes how the family "lit a candle for Linda and took some time to meditate in peace." (Or so they thought.) In a statement released shortly after the ruling, McCartney says he was unaware his family was being "stalked" by photographers at the time. He called the images "highly intrusive photographs of us in our most private moments at this very difficult time in our lives."

Although the magazine claims the pics were obtained from news organizations it apologized to McCartney nonetheless. "We were touched to see your wonderfully close relationship," Hello! said in a statement, "which is...what readers also felt when they saw them." And Hello! shouldn't have any trouble saying good-bye to the ruling. Because the press commission is an independent, self-regulatory organization it cannot levy penalties, financial or otherwise.

KILLER'S LENNON ALBUM GOES ON SALE

The following story is from UPI News Service:

WASHINGTONVILLE, N.Y., Aug. 5 (UPI) A Washingtonville, N.Y., company is selling the record album John Lennon autographed for Mark David Chapman before he killed the Beatle.

Moments in Time president Gary Zimet said today he got the piece of memorabilia from a man who claims he found it in the front gate flower planter outside Lennon's Manhattan apartment building, the Dakota.

According to Zimet, the "Double Fantasy" album bears the singer's signature and Chapman's forensically enhanced fingerprints. He adds that prosecutors used the record cover and dust jacket as evidence in the killer's trial and when they returned it to the owner, sent a letter of gratitude.

Moments in Time is asking for $1.8 million for the album, which comes with full documentation. Chapman fatally shot the legendary performer in front of the Dakota on the night of Dec. 8, 1980. A picture of Lennon signing Chapman's copy of the recordings appeared in newspapers and on television around the world.

(Entered July 8, 1998)

First Julian Said:
LONDON, July 5 (Reuters) - Julian Lennon on Sunday accused Yoko Ono of cheapening John Lennon's legacy with too much blatant commercialism.

Speaking to Reuters after his brief set in the all-star concert in London's Hyde Park, there was no disguising his continued anger with his stepmother, the Japanese artist Yoko Ono.

Julian Lennon, whose father John left his mother Cynthia when he was a child of just four, felt Yoko Ono was besmirching the memory of the Beatle gunned down outside his New York apartment in 1980 by a crazed fan. "He was not about commercialism," the 35-year-old singer said of his father who is still revered today as a pop icon. "The one last thing that upsets me is what she does with the estate," he said. "To be selling off his art work in limited editions etched into marble and to take his other art work which is on silk ties and mugs is not what he is about," he added.

Yoko Responds Through Spokesman, Elliot Mintz:

NEW YORK (AP) - Yoko Ono says she isn't betraying John Lennon by selling his art works, because he always intended them to be sold.

That's the word from her spokesman, Elliot Mintz, who said in Tuesday's Daily News that Ms. Ono is being unfairly criticized by Julian Lennon, John's son from his first marriage. The younger Lennon said selling off the former Beatle's art ``is not what he is about.''

The former Beatle didn't create these works, ``and sign and date them so they wouldn't be seen or sold,'' Mintz said of Lennon's drawings and lithographs, copies of which are selling for $400 to $12,000. ``During his lifetime, he personally released a series of lithographs and made them commercially available.''

Limited-edition copies of Lennon's work are part of a show called ``Music for the Eyes: The Artwork of John Lennon,'' which is touring the country.

Besides, said curator Lynne Clifford, Ms. Ono isn't profiting from the sales. Ms. Clifford said the proceeds go toward running the exhibit.

Find more on this story at muzic.com where you'll also find a picture of Yoko that the IK! editor took off the t.v. a few years ago and had on our Yoko Menu page for awhile!!!! Glad they liked it! :-)

(Entered July 3, 1998)

ABC News reported today that Yoko plans to turn the pictures that John drew of animals such as owls, sheep, frogs, kangaroos and elephants into merchandise for fans. John drew the objects as he taught son, Sean, to read. The critters are likely to show up soon on clothing, toys, dinnerware and greeting cards, according to ABC.

(Entered July 2, 1998)

Yoko has donated $300,000 to women's and children's charities in memory of Linda McCartney. $100,000 was given to an organization in Manhattan (NYC) that helps battered women and children. $200,000 was given to similar charities in England. (See tvgen.com)